Do you need to get town phase fast to be really good at the game?

[Blackhydra]

I always get town phase very late in the game. But at that time I have lots of troops and workers. My pop is up on 200 and i get food and wood very fast. Do I need to save more resources and don't spend that much?

[Obelix]

This is a question I asked myself years ago as well. What really helped me to think about different strategies was the following topic

and the reply by @cl2488

 

[scr0llbaer]

It might be a viable strategy and just a way of preference and for sure it's more than sufficient against just one AI opponent, but in other settings it might be important to get certain upgrades (market, forge,...) sooner.